A planning application has been submitted by Orkney Islands Council this week for a six-turbine wind farm development at Quanterness outside Kirkwall.
The development is part of Orkney's Community Wind Farm Project, which could also see council-owned wind farm developments in Hoy and on Faray.
If the proposals and sites are found through the planning process to be appropriate and the project goes forward, it could generate significant income and community benefit for Orkney. All profit would stay in the islands, enabling the Council to preserve and enhance key services that local people value and depend upon and providing a foundation for communities to drive transformational projects of their own.
The projects would also allow the Council to join other local developers in making a meaningful contribution to a Needs Case for a new interconnector for Orkney, thereby substantially supporting the vital renewable energy industry in Orkney.
Planning applications for the Hoy and Faray projects are likely to follow in Summer and Autumn respectively, as there are additional survey requirements for these sites. Public consultation events will be held shortly in these areas to present the latest plans and gather public views.
All three developments are substantial, and the turbines are of a height not used in Orkney before (149.9m to blade tip). The projects therefore present a number of potential impacts and these must be weighed against the potential benefits from the project. Individuals will have different opinions on that balance and through the planning process have the opportunity to express their support or objections to the development.
Councillors agreed late last year that a request should be made to the Scottish Government to call-in the application on the grounds that the development is of national significance. That request has now been made and the Council is awaiting a decision from the Scottish Government as to whether they will call in the application or not.
The full application documents are available through the Council website. For more information visit the Planning Application Search and Submission page of the website, read the Disclaimer and Copyright document available in the 'Related Downloads' section and then click on the 'Accept and Search' button.
For the ‘Orkney’s Community Wind Farm – Quanterness’ planning application search for 20/037/TPPMAJ.
Information on how to comment on a planning application – whether that be to support the proposal or object to it – and what happens to those comments is available at Commenting on an Application. Comments can be submitted in writing, either by email to Development Management, online through the Council website www.orkney.gov.uk or by post to: Development Management, Council Offices, School Place, Kirkwall, KW15 1NY.
Hard copies of the application are also available to view at the One Stop Shop at the Council Offices in Kirkwall and at the Orkney Library and Archive in Kirkwall.
More information on Orkney’s Community Wind Farm project is available on the Orkney's Community Wind Farm Project webpage.
